Bengtie, I'm really not a villain!

Himeko's resolute gaze as she set off, the warmth of her pat on the shoulder, and the dangerous image reflected in Jingye's pocket watch kept flashing through her mind. Fear coiled around her heart like a venomous snake. She counted her trembling breaths, not daring to think about what Himeko was going through at that moment, and could only pray again and again in her heart.

After an unknown amount of time, a sharp alarm pierced the sky.

Raiden Mei suddenly looked up, and the skin on the back of her neck brushed against the sharp metal behind her back due to the sudden movement, causing a burning pain.

The protective shield of the Destiny Headquarters rippled violently, and the eerie blue light dimmed rapidly as if its soul had been ripped away.

Her breath caught in her throat, her hand gripping the katana trembled slightly, and the stigmata beneath her combat suit suddenly throbbed violently—was this sudden change a turning point or a deeper trap?

The moment the protective shield completely dissipated, a dazzling red light tore through the clouds.

The Crimson Knight armor descended with overwhelming force, flames raging around Himeko, dyeing the entire sky a fiery crimson.

The high temperature distorted the air, making Himeko's figure appear and disappear in the heatwave.

Himeko walked steadily forward, each step carrying a chilling pressure. The energy patterns flowing across the surface of her armor resembled a leaping galaxy, without the slightest damage or abnormality. The rose decorations on her shoulder armor swayed gently with each step, yet they appeared particularly dazzling in the intense light.

"Mei, are you ready?" Himeko's voice came through the armor, confident and steady, carrying a reassuring power.

Raiden Mei, however, stood frozen in place. The life-and-death battles in Izumo had given her an extraordinary intuition for danger.

What seeped from the gaps in Himeko's armor was not a stream of energy light, but a dark red mist steaming with heat. The life force contained within that mist was strikingly similar to that of the past.

At this moment, she clearly sensed a strange heat hidden within the flames surrounding Himeko—it was not an ordinary energy fluctuation, but rather the brilliant light that burst forth in the final moments of a candle flame about to burn out.

Raiden Mei recalled that in Izumo, when Furibas, her mother, Himeko, and Kageya gave their lives to make the spider lilies bloom, they also exuded this same powerful yet desperate aura.

The light in their eyes gradually dimmed, but at the last moment it shone with the most dazzling brilliance.

Looking at Himeko's tall and straight figure and her confident smile, her throat tightened. She wanted to ask a question, but she was afraid of getting the answer she didn't want to face.

She had witnessed the same thing in Izumo, watching her comrades burn their lives to protect her, only to fall one by one before her eyes. And now, history seemed poised to repeat itself.

Chapter 153 Lu Huana

Himeko turned around and looked in the direction of the Schicksal headquarters. Flames surged wildly behind her, casting a long shadow of her.

"This defense has been breached. Next, we'll go rescue Kiana."

Her tone was firm, filled with unwavering confidence, but as she finished speaking, the light patterns on the armor surface flickered for a moment.

Beneath this powerful exterior, Raiden Mei sensed the lament of life slipping away, a familiar yet cruel rhythm leading to the end.

In the shadows not far away, Jingye's figure appeared and disappeared, as he fiddled with his pocket watch, the opening and closing of the watch cover reflecting the image of Himeko burning her life.

A satisfied smile curled at the corner of his lips—everything was unfolding according to the script he had foreseen.

The moment she stepped into the Schicksal headquarters, a damp, cold metallic aura mixed with a strong stench of blood assaulted her senses, as if an invisible hand were gripping Raiden Mei's throat.

The crimson alarm lights on the ceiling of the corridor flashed alternately at a chilling frequency, cutting the ground into a blood-red checkerboard of light and shadow.

Himeko's figure flickered in and out of the light and shadow, the flames leaping on the Crimson Knight armor creating a stark contrast with the cold metal wall, each burst of flames seeming like a countdown to her death.

The image of Jingye echoed in Raiden Mei's mind. The silver pocket watch traced an elegant yet cold arc between his fingers, the clinking of the watch chain sounding as crisp as a death knell.

A chilling smile played on his lips, and his eyes reflected Raiden Mei's taut back, as if the whole world were a meticulously orchestrated game of chess.

Raiden Mei's gaze unconsciously fell on Himeko. She saw Himeko's firm steps, the soles of her boots striking the metal ground with a clanging sound, but dark red mist seeping from the gaps in her armor was quietly spreading, wrapping around the two of them like spider silk.

"Be careful, it might be a trap." Raiden Mei's voice was so low it was almost a whisper, as if there was a barbed wire stuck in her throat.

Her fingernails dug deeply into her palms, the rope binding the hilt of her katana was soaked with sweat, the lightning pattern on the tsuba was burning hot, and the stigmata writhed wildly beneath her skin like a living thing.

Her memories of Izumo suddenly became clear, and her own desperate gaze in her final moments overlapped with Himeko's silhouette.

Himeko simply turned around and smiled, her eyes filled with tenderness and determination: "Don't worry, Mei. I'm here."

As they ventured deeper into headquarters, a strange metallic scraping sound emanated from the ventilation ducts overhead, signaling a looming crisis that surged forth like a tide.

Titans are not only possessed by Anti-Entropy; Destiny also has its own mechs.

Mechanical guards swarmed out from hidden compartments in the wall, their crimson electronic eyes locking onto their targets.

The moment Himeko raised her hand, the Crimson Armor burst forth with a dazzling light like the sun, and scorching flames swept in like a tsunami, instantly melting the mechanical guards into molten iron.

But the instant the flames dissipated, Raiden Mei clearly saw Himeko stagger half a step, and the rose decorations on the armor surface dimmed a bit.

She mentally rehearsed: to stop Himeko, she must first break through the Crimson Armor's defenses.

But every time I imagine the scene of wielding the sword, the warmth of Himeko teaching her to hold the sword comes back to me.

At that time, Himeko said, "You must hold the sword firmly, and you must also have a steady mind." But now her hands are trembling so much that she can barely hold the hilt.

The moment the thought of knocking Himeko unconscious crossed his mind, she rejected it.

How could she lay a hand on someone like that?

But if we don't stop her, Himeko will burn out her life completely in this battle, just like after a brilliant display, only ashes remain.

"Himeko-sensei..." Raiden Mei was about to speak when Himeko raised her hand to interrupt her.

Himeko's arm paused in mid-air for half a second before slowly falling. This subtle movement caused Raiden Mei's pupils to shrink sharply—it was clearly a sign that her power was about to be exhausted.

"Don't speak, stay alert." Himeko's voice remained calm, but there was a hint of hoarseness in her tone, like sandpaper rubbing against metal.

Suddenly, the rumble of gears turning came from the end of the corridor, and the metal door in front of it slowly rose, revealing even deeper darkness.

Raiden Mei gritted her teeth, tasting the metallic flavor on her tongue. She knew that with every step she took, she was one step closer to danger, and she still hadn't found a way to save Himeko.

Jingye's smile was like a sharp blade, piercing her heart and reminding her that this was all a carefully designed trap, and that she and Jizi were stepping into the abyss step by step.

At that moment, regret overwhelmed her like a tidal wave. She should have realized this much earlier, long ago when Theresa patted her on the shoulder and said, "Let's figure something out together."

When Himeko clenched her fist and said, "We can't let Kiana face this alone," and when Bronya nodded firmly with a blank expression, she should have stopped them immediately.

If she had been more assertive back then, even if it meant being misunderstood and blamed, she shouldn't have let everyone split up. Going to Schicksal headquarters alone, even if it meant death, would have been better than watching Himeko burn her life force in battle.

The alarm at the end of the corridor suddenly blared with a blinding red light, and the sharp buzzing made Raiden Mei's eardrums ache.

Three heavily armored Titans thundered closer, their footsteps echoing across the trembling metal floor, each step leaving a deep imprint on the ground like the drumbeats of death.

Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Himeko's slightly raised arm, and the dark red mist seeping from the gaps in the armor slithered like a venomous snake. She immediately gritted her teeth and kicked the wall hard with her toes.

Purple lightning exploded around her, like lightning tearing through the night. With a dragon's roar as her katana was drawn, she transformed into a blur, sweeping past Himeko's shoulder, the blade precisely piercing the energy core at the Titan's joint.

Liquid metal gushed out, condensing into fine silver mist in the air. "Himeko-sensei, please save your strength."

Her voice was swallowed by the sound of metal tearing apart, but it made Himeko pause slightly.

The three Titan laser cannons activated simultaneously, their crimson beams intertwining like chains from hell, weaving an impenetrable web of death behind them.

Raiden Mei spun and swung her sword, ripples spreading across the surface of the lightning-formed shield that shattered the beams of light. The recoil struck her chest like a hammer blow, causing her to stagger half a step, the stigmata beneath her combat suit burning like branding irons.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Himeko's clenched fist slowly loosen, and the dark red mist seeping from the gaps in the armor seemed to have faded a bit. She suppressed the metallic taste in her throat and turned to face the new wave of mechs.

Raiden Mei's katana transformed into purple lightning in her hand, each strike accompanied by a sharp, piercing sound, cleaving the approaching mechs into smoldering wreckage.

When the core of the last mech exploded amidst lightning, the sparks that burst forth were as dazzling as fireworks, yet they could not conceal the atmosphere of despair that permeated the air.

The metal door in front slowly rose, the hydraulic system straining under its strain, revealing a laboratory filled with a ghostly blue light. The cold blue light, like the dark eyes of the deep sea, illuminated everything inside.

Huge, transparent liquid tanks were neatly arranged, with experimental subjects dressed in straitjackets floating inside, like sleeping puppets.

In the very center of the tank, Kiana's pale face was faintly visible in the pale green liquid. Her body was entangled in countless tubes.

Those pipes, like greedy tentacles, injected Honkai energy into his body like venomous snakes. The crystal on his chest shimmered with an eerie purple light, beating rhythmically like a heart.

Raiden Mei's nails dug deeply into her palms, she gritted her teeth and clenched her fists, her whole body trembling slightly with anger.

He was furious that Kiana had been used as a guinea pig; his anger was almost bursting out of his chest.

Raiden Mei's nails dug deeply into her palms, her teeth clenched, her fists tightened, and her whole body trembled slightly with rage. The stigmata beneath her combat suit burned intensely, as if echoing her boiling fury. "Kiana!" Her roar shook the metal walls, and her katana was instantly drawn, the lightning gathered on its blade illuminating the laboratory in a ghastly white light.

With a roar, she slashed her katana down at the jar with the force of a thunderbolt. The lightning collided violently with the energy barrier, unleashing a deafening roar, and purple arcs of electricity writhed across the barrier's surface like giant pythons.

During the few seconds of stalemate, Raiden Mei could clearly feel the violent tremors coming from her arm, a result of a power imbalance.

Finally, with a crisp sound, the barrier shattered, and the can exploded into countless fragments under the powerful impact. Pale green liquid poured down like a torrential rain, and Kiana slumped forward, only to be caught by Raiden Mei who rushed forward and caught her steadily.

"Kiana, how are you?" Raiden Mei called out anxiously, her hands trembling slightly. Her thumbs unconsciously stroked Kiana's pale cheek, trying to wake the person in her arms.

The person in her arms slowly opened their eyes, but the golden light dancing in those eyes made Raiden Mei feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

Orange-yellow light surged from Kiana's body as if it were a tangible substance, and the Queen of the Sky's black dress grew out of the void like thorns, wrapping around Kiana's body with a cold metallic texture, each hem gleaming with a dangerous eerie light.

“It feels great,” the Herrscher of the Void said with a strange and cold smile. Her voice seemed to come from the distant void, yet it rang clearly in Raiden Mei’s ears, with a chilling echo.

"This is how I should be, like I've been reborn." She gently raised her hand, her fingertips tracing across Raiden Mei's cheek. The touch was completely different from her usual warmth, as cold as a blade chilled to the bone.

It was clearly Kiana's face, but now it was full of aloofness and indifference, with a haughty mockery in her eyes. "The fear in your eyes is truly amusing."

Raiden Mei took a half step back, shaking her head in disbelief: "No... You're not Kiana!"

"Kiana? That weak shell?" The Herrscher of the Void let out a melodious yet chilling laugh, the sound waves vibrating the surrounding air and causing the laboratory instruments to hum under the strain.

The surrounding space began to distort, and countless golden cracks spread through the void, with chilling whispers faintly emanating from the depths of the cracks.

"From this moment forward, only the Herrscher of the Void, who controls everything, shall remain." The instant the words fell, a sub-control spear grazed Raiden Mei's hair and blasted a huge hole in the wall behind her.

Himeko suddenly stood in front of Raiden Mei, the flames of her Crimson Armor blazing fiercely, the heat wave colliding with the chill emanating from the Herrscher of the Void, stirring up large swaths of white mist in the air.

Even though the flames made Himeko's figure appear taller, she seemed so small under the overwhelming pressure of the Herrscher of the Void.

Raiden Mei looked through Himeko's shoulder at the unfamiliar "Kiana" before her, and despair surged in her heart like a tidal wave.

The flames of Himeko's armor clashed fiercely with the Herrscher of the Void, and white mist surged and rose between the two, cutting the laboratory into a battlefield.

A scorching wave of air, carrying fragments, rushed towards her. Raiden Mei squinted, the stigmata beneath her combat suit throbbing violently with the intense energy fluctuations.

She looked at Himeko's straight back, the rose patterns on the crimson armor flickering in the flames, and her knuckles involuntarily tightened around the hilt of the sword.

With Himeko's experience and her Herrscher of Thunder power, controlling the Herrscher of Void should probably not be a problem.

However, when the Herrscher of the Void raised her hand to condense a second Void Spear, the gentle arc of her hair swaying with the energy fluctuations overlapped with Kiana's appearance when she was secretly eating ice cream and had vanilla cream on her nose without realizing it.

Raiden Mei's throat suddenly tightened, a movement she knew all too well.

Once, on a moonlit night, they lay side by side on the lawn, Kiana excitedly pointing to the starry sky, sharing her dream of becoming the strongest Valkyrie.

At this moment, beneath the same face, lay a pair of unfamiliar and cold eyes, and the curve of her lips seemed to mock all the past, causing Raiden Mei's heart to clench suddenly.

"Mei, watch out!"

Himeko's roar ripped through Raiden Mei's thoughts. The Void Spear, with a piercing shriek that tore through the air, grazed past her ear and blasted the lab table behind her into dust.

The powerful blast of air lifted the hem of her combat uniform, revealing the skin on her waist that had been burned by the aftershocks, and the smell of burning mixed with the stench of blood filled her nostrils.

But this pain paled in comparison to the tearing sensation churning in her chest. Her gaze followed the golden light flowing from the Herrscher of the Void's fingertips, and she suddenly recalled the first time Kiana held her hand.

The warmth emanating from her palm, the warmth that had given her strength in countless difficult times, now turned into sharp blades, cutting into her heart again and again.

"Why..." Raiden Mei's whisper was swallowed by the roar of the battle. Himeko's flames collided with the spatial rift of the Herrscher of the Void, and the ceiling of the laboratory began to collapse in large areas, with debris raining down and creating craters of varying depths on the ground.

Lightning flashed on her katana, but she was unable to deliver a fatal blow.

Every time she aimed at the Herrscher of the Void, memories of Kiana's radiant smile, her cheers during training, and her stubborn perseverance when injured would flood back, causing her wrists to tremble uncontrollably and tears to well up in her eyes.

Amidst the grating sound of metal scraping together, Jing Ye's face suddenly became clear in his mind.

The man, who always wore a mocking smile, played with his pocket watch with an air of nonchalance, his eyes seeming to see through everything.

Raiden Mei's pupils suddenly contracted. It turned out that from Himeko burning her life force to break through the defenses, to Kiana awakening as the Herrscher of the Void, every step was something Jingye had foreseen, that would lead him into this predicament.

He had to turn his sword against the body of his dearest friend, and all this pain and struggle was part of his calculations.

------

I had a cough and fever yesterday and slept all day. I went to get an IV drip last night, so sorry for the late update.

Chapter 154 The Last Lesson

Himeko stood before Kiana, who had been resurrected as Queen Sirin.

The chaotic sky was violently torn apart, and the Herrscher's figure appeared amidst lightning.

"Kiana..."

The Herrscher, who manipulates human lives like a cruel queen, descends the queen's steps, coldly staring at Himeko.

His indifferent demeanor was completely different from his usual energetic and foolish self. Even with Himeko standing in front of him, it was as if he were just staring at an ant.

Sirin unleashed the power of the Herrscher of the Void, and the Void Spear was about to tear Himeko's body apart when a scorching stream of fire crashed down!

The Godslayer Sword in Himeko's hands burned with raging flames, cutting through the Herrscher's power. Even though Himeko was battered and bruised, she now had the ability to fight Queen Sirin!